Power
Innovation for networks: beyond the buzzwords
As the electricity networks gear up for the next price control period, and the water networks get to grips with new deliverables under Asset Management Plan 7 (AMP7), companies in both sectors face considerable challenges.
Power
National Grid ESO pledges £2bn savings under RIIO-T2
The National Grid ESO is anticipating the creation of savings and benefits worth £2bn in the RIIO-T2 price control period, according to the finalised business plan it submitted to Ofgem this week.
Gas
Worry-free DGA monitor commissioning from Vaisala
At Vaisala, as well as supplying world-class measurement equipment for monitoring transformer oil, we are also here to make sure our customers can get the most out of their monitoring equipment, and help take the stress out of getting it up and running.
Gas
SSEN projects £2.4bn investment in RIIO-T2 plan
SSEN Transmission, responsible for the north of Scotland electricity transmission system, has submitted its RIIO-T2 business plan to energy regulator Ofgem, with a plan to invest £2.4bn.
Power
National Grid backs PowerPaired community energy platform
Sustainability charity Forum for the Future has launched a new online "matchmaking" platform to pair up community energy groups and the businesses or public sector organisations that own sites or buildings that could be at the heart of community-owned schemes.
Gas
AMT transformers to cut power losses in Northern Powergrid trial
Northern Powergrid is trialling a new type of transformer that can dramatically reduce power losses, becoming the UK's first distribution network operator (DNO) to trial the equipment.
Heat
Vehicle-to-grid tech in homes could shrink bills by £300
The final report from a research project that looked at how much UK households could save if they stored and shared electricity in EV batteries has calculated that a figure of £300 a year is possible.
Gas
SSEN wins £9.5m for low-carbon emergency power study
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has secured over £9.5m of funding from Ofgem's Network Innovation Competition (NIC), for a project examining new solutions for network resilience in a low carbon world.
Power
UKPN and Innovate UK map 66 routes to ‘V2G’ future
A project led by UK Power Networks and Innovate UK has mapped 66 "vehicle-to-grid" energy storage trials around the world, including the UK, the US, Japan, Korea and Namibia.
Heat
Energy sector urges politicians to unite for net-zero
Energy businesses, academics and trade bodies are among 40 organisations and individuals that have signed an open letter calling on political leaders to form a post-election pact on achieving net-zero.
Heat
Liverpool plugs in district heat for new science campus
A combined heat and power (CHP) energy centre buried below a 14 storey car park in Liverpool is set to become a key source of low carbon energy for a £1bn new life science campus.
Gas
Chinese university develops state-of-the-art software tool for Integrated Energy System planning
New cloud-based software for Integrated Energy System (IES) planning and analysis has been developed by researchers at Southeast University (SEU) in China, led by Dr Suyang Zhou and Professor Wei Gu.
Gas
Consumer power key to heat pump roll-out, says HPA
The Heat Pump Association (HPA) has launched a new report, "Delivering net zero: A roadmap for the role of heat Pumps", outlining the heat pump industry's readiness to deliver decarbonisation of heat.
Power
ENW buys electric diggers to dig the road to zero carbon
Electricity North West is turning its streetworks operations a darker shade of green by purchasing two innovative JCB electric mini diggers, following a successful trial period.
Gas
Making climate change local with UK100
Global cities have the C40 grouping, and now local councils have the UK100 group to raise ambitions and share know-how on the clean energy agenda. The organisation's Hywel Lloyd and Polly Billington explain the challenge, especially with RIIO-2 on the horizon.
Gas
Labour’s nationalisation plan adds ‘Big Six’ to DNOs
Labour has extended its renationalisation agenda with plans to bring the supply arms of the Big Six energy companies into public ownership, a surprise move announced at its manifesto launch on 21 November that has prompted concern in the sector.
Power
Critics fear Ofgem’s charging review will stifle renewables
Ofgem has held firm on its plan to reform the way the electricity networks recover the cost of providing pylons and cabling from consumers, a decision that it says will remove "harmful distortions" from the current charging framework.
Power
Northern Powergrid goes Dutch in 100 MW auction
Distribution Network Operator (DNO) Northern Powergrid has announced plans for a flexibility auction - covering generation, storage and demand-side response - using an e-auction platform and a "dynamic purchasing" methodology.
Gas
Seven tower blocks replace gas with GSHP technology
Residents in seven tower blocks in Sunderland will become green heat pioneers at the conclusion of a new project to install low carbon ground source heat pumps in 364 homes in place of gas boilers.
Power
“The further you go from shore, the more HVDC stacks up”
Grant McKay, ABB's marketing and sales manager for HVDC in northern Europe, discusses ABB's recent UK first: a contract to use HVDC convertor technology to link two forthcoming 1.2 GW North Sea offshore wind farms to the mainland transmission network.
Power
Higher wind speeds to boost power output for 10 years
A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change suggests that global wind speeds have increased substantially since 2010, after around three decades of decline.
Heat
UKPN unveils flexibility tender across 115 sites
UK Power Networks (UKPN) has launched what is believed to be the UK's largest ever tender for flexibility services and storage, highlighting 115 sites where renewables could boost network capacity and reduce costs for customers.
Gas
ENA launches election wish list for net-zero
As the general election campaign moves up a gear, energy network companies have called on political leaders to commit to taking bold action to achieve net-zero.
Power
ABB to connect offshore wind with HVDC in UK first
ABB has been selected by energy companies SSE Renewables and Equinor to use its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter systems to connect the world's largest offshore wind farms to the UK transmission network.
Power
Siemens launches new IoT apps and protection relay
Siemens is launching two new products at the European Utility Week show in Paris - a new suite of grid diagnostic apps that exploits Internet of Things (IoT) technology, and a new protection relay device, the Reyrolle 5.
Gas
“We’re having joint conversations, but behind on 2050”
Dr Sara Walker, a reader in energy in the School of Engineering at Newcastle University, is joining the judging panel for this year's Network awards. With the deadline now extended until 16 December - to accommodate essential RIIO-2 submissions - what does the judging panel hope will be in store?
Heat
‘Low cost’ substation monitor passes DNO field trials
Western Power Distribution and 42 Technology, an innovation and product development consultancy, have announced the completion of six months of field trials for FuseOhm, a device that monitors performance parameters in electricity substations.
Power
Northern Powergrid teams up with troops in flood-hit Doncaster
Northern Powergrid is supporting customers in the village of Fishlake, Doncaster, affected by last weekend's flooding, while also preparing for more heavy rain forecast across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire for the end of this week.
Gas
ETI calls for ‘smart’ charging and incentives on EV adoption
A new report by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) argues that "smart" charging is needed to support the widespread integration of electric cars and vans into the energy system to meet the UK's 2050 climate change targets.
Gas
Europe-wide survey scores GB low on electricity system flexibility
Great Britain ranks eighth out of nine northern European countries in attracting and facilitating investment in electricity system flexibility, says a new industry report published by the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA).
Heat
Developing leaders for a low-carbon future
Tom Naughton, an associate at London based heat network consultancy FairHeat, describes its award-winning graduate training programme, and why similar schemes are vital to the sector's future.